| National Defence University of Malaysia | |
|---|---|
| Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia | |
Seal of the National Defence University of Malaysia |
|
| Motto | Kewajipan, Maruah, Integriti |
| Motto in English | Duty, Honour, Integrity |
| Established | 1995, 2006 |
| Type | Public |
| Chancellor | Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'azam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah (Supreme Ruler of Malaysia) |
| Vice-Chancellor | Lt Gen Dato' Wira Allatif bin Mohamed Noor |
| Director | Brig. Gen. Mustak Ahmad bin Miandad TUDM |
| Commanding Officer of Military Training Academy | Lt. Col. Chan Weng Poh |
| Location | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Campus | Sungai Besi Camp |
| Former names | Akademi Tentera Malaysia (ATMA) |
| Colours | Dark blue Red, and Cyan |
| Affiliations | Malaysian Armed Forces |
| Website | http://www.upnm.edu.my/ |
Universiti Pertahanan Nasional (UPNM) or the National Defence University of Malaysia is a military university located in Sungai Besi Camp, Kuala Lumpur. The university is Malaysia's first catering to the needs and development of modern armed forces. As of year 2008, it has around 1,500 undergraduate students, with over 1,300 of them are Officer Cadets.
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UPNM was originally Akademi Tentera Malaysia (ATMA) or the Malaysian Armed Forces Academy which was established on June 1, 1995. It was an organisation solely responsible in upgrading the knowledge and academic status of the armed forces by offering bachelor degrees in fields of engineering, sciences and managements while not neglecting the basic requirements of military training.
The bachelor degree courses were accredited and awarded by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in the beginning. Lecturers—some from within the armed forces, some hired by the academy and the rest deputised by UTM—were fully committed to changing the face of the Malaysian armed forces.
On November 10, 2006, ATMA's responsibility was recognised and further given a boost when it was upgraded to university status creating the current UPNM. The establishment of the university was announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during the Budget 2007 reading in the Malaysian Parliament. The setting up of the university cost RM 500 million and was fully borne by the Government of Malaysia.
The university's first intake of students was for the 2007/2008 session with new changes by taking the first intake of civilian undergrads. Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia preparing the military and civilian leaders from Malaysia to better address national and international security challenges through multi-disciplinary educational programs, research, professional exchanges and outreach. Though the university was young, it has already chalked up over 11 years of experience in education and training since 1995 with over 1000 graduates in the fields of engineering, computer science and management. These graduates have also been successfully been inducted as full officers of the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Government Sectors and Non Government Sectors.[1]
UPNM's main campus is at the Sungai Besi Camp in Kuala Lumpur. The campus which was originally completed in 2002 as part of ATMA has the latest education and training facilities as well as huge playing field and recreational area, which is in line with the need of a growing institution.[2]
| Building | Image | Constructed | Description | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Jazaari Mosque | 2002 | First constructed in 2002. It was doubled in size in 2009 when the Cadet Brigade expanded to 1,500 cadets. As the main Cadet Mosque it conducts religious services and dominates the center of the campus area. |
1st apartment complex
Echo Valley - Once a barrack-style residential block, it was rebuilt into a three four-storey buildings in 2009 to cater the increasing numbers of officer cadets but currently accommodates civilian students. The blocks are A, B and C blocks. These blocks are situated in a valley as the name suggests.
2nd apartment complex
3rd accommodation complex
UPNM is home to many modern athletic facilities because the university demands all of its students to participate actively in sports. Some of the facilities are :
The former Commandant of ATMA, Lt. General Dato' Wira Ir. Ismail Samion was appointed as the first vice chancellor of UPNM. His appointment created history in the Malaysian higher education scene as the first military personnel appointed to be vice chancellor of a local university.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Defence Minister, said he was confident that Ismail's appointment was appropriate as he had a world of experience in the armed forces and education. Ismail was Commandant of ATMA for six years prior to the appointment.
The current Vice Chancellor is Lt Jen Dato' Wira Allatif bin Mohamed Noor who appointed to the post in 2010.
ATMA Commandants/UPNM Vice Chancellor
1. Lt Jen Dato' Ismail Hassan 1995 - 1996 2. Mej Jen Dato' Abd Ghani Yunus 1996 - 1997 3. Brig Jen Baharudin Abdul Kadir 1997 - 1997 4. Brig Jen Dato' Adenan Mohamad Zain 1998 - 5. Brig Jen Azizan Ariffin - 6. Lt Jen Dato' Wira Ir. Ismail Samion (VC) 2002 - 2008 7. Lt Jen Dato Pahlawan Hj Zulkifli Hj Zainal Abidin (VC) 2008 - 2010 8. Lt Jen Dato' Wira Allatif bin Mohamed Noor (VC) 2010 – Present
ATMA/UPNM Commanding Officers (CO)
1. Lt Kol Badrulzaman Abd Rani 1995 - 1996 2. Lt Kol Azroie Ahmad 1996 - 1997 3. Lt Kol Mohammad Azudin Othman Fuad 1997 - 1998 4. Kol Mohd Shukri Ahmad 1998 - 2004 5. Lt Kol 2004 - 2005 6. Lt Kol Ahmad Sazali Sukardi 2005 - 2006 7. Lt Kol Zakaria borhan 2006 - 2009 8. Lt Kol Abdul Aziz Ismail 2009 - 2010 9. Lt Kol Kamal Idris Johari 2010 – 2011 10. Lt Kol Chan Weng Poh 2011 - Present
Cadets are educated and graded on their performance in academics, physical fitness, and military leadership.
The academic program consists of a core of 11 courses balanced in the managements, sciences and engineerings. Cadets choose their courses in the end of their foundation year.
The physical program includes both physical education classes and competitive athletics. Every cadet participates in an intercollegiate, club or intramural (called Inter-Battalion Sports) level sport each year. As with all soldiers in the Armed Forces, cadets also must pass a physical fitness test (UKA) twice per year. Additionally, during each end year-session, cadets must undergo Single Service Training (LKPT)—which generally is regarded by cadets to be the "worst 6 weeks of the year."
Cadets learn basic military skills, including leadership, through a military program (LKU) that begins on their first day at the university. Most military training takes place during the end-semester holiday, with new cadets undergoing Cadet Basic Training (LFI) — or "Square bashing". Additionally, cadets are housed in barracks style floor-by-floor management at accommodation blocks and have leadership positions and responsibilities throughout the academic year.
Every mid-semester, the young men and women train at the campus camp itself; campus fields for physical trainings, 1RAMD obstacle course and shooting range for obstacle course exercise and shooting practice, and RMC's parade ground for drills. In this six-week part of LKU at the campus, the cadets are introduced to a basic firearms and training exercises. The battalions are in command of appointed rank holders and final year cadets. The super-seniors are in officer positions such as Platoon leader and Company commanders. At the end of the six-week UKMHK session, awards are given out to the best battalion based on the best performance at each training site.
Moral-ethical development occurs throughout the formal programs as well as a host of activities and experiences available at the University. These include formal instruction in the important values of the military profession, religious programs, and interaction with staff and faculty role models. The foundation of the ethical code at the university is found in the institution's motto, "Duty, Honor, Integrity." Cadets also required to adhere to the wide known Cadet Honor Code, which states simply, "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."
Besides pursuing an academic programme, students also undergo rigorous military training. All military training is organised by the ALK. When a new cadet reports here, he or she will first undergo a six-weeks induction training (LFI) or well known as Latihan Tunas Wira. The day a new cadet reports to this institutions is called Tunas Wira Day, which is adopted from the R-Day from the West Point Military academy. On this very first day, upon registration at Tun Templer Hall they will be thoroughly examined by academy instructors and seniors cadets to check for forbidden belongings and items. The new cadets hair are cut to a standardized order by the provided university line of barbers and later brought to collect personal military uniforms and items from the Quartermaster. New cadets will be shown to their rooms and required to change to military uniforms for camp orientation and drill training. Tunas Wira training is specially programmed to change newly reported cadets mentality from a civilian into a military personnel like. Their status as an officer cadet will not be confirmed until they finish the induction training period, and meanwhile are called 'Bakal Pegawai Kadet' (soon-to-be cadet) throughout this period. During the period, new cadets will be taught military basics such as parade drills, physical training and firearms handling. They will also be taught military ethics such as teamwork, perseverance and endurance. Seniors cadets will also be teaching them mess ettiquites. New cadets who pass these trainings will be confirmed as an officer cadet and a ceremony will be held at the main field. They will be a performance, usually a platoon battle drill, in front of the VIPs, officers, senior cadets and parents who are specially invited to the event. The Vice Chancellor will award each of newly appointed officer cadets the UPNM beret, as a symbolic marking their induction period completion and official status being an officer cadet of UPNM.
The cadets will undergo further training as they rise through the ranks at the university. For the army and air force cadets, they will learn basic jungle training at Camp Kongkoi, the university's training camp situated in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan. They will learn basic jungle base-up, survival, compass marching and river-crossing training. They will also be taught more types of issued firearms such as Minimi and GPMG. The cadets will also have their obstacle course trainings, marching and shooting practices periodically. Military training is usually conducted between May to July and November to December, on end of semesters at the break of academic programmes. But cadets will still perform training throughout academic period including daily duties, morning parades, daily sport parades, Wednesday cross country and occasional night events. Unarmed combat training is held on Friday evenings and general military training occupies the whole of Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Naval cadets will annually be attached to KD Sultan Idris I, a naval-officers training establishment in Lumut Base located in Perak to undergo their naval training. They will learn naval routines and culture, seamanship, on-job training and naval warfare lessons at the base. For Seaman cadets, they will be attached to particular Royal Malaysian Navy's warships for six month for their practical training.
For final year cadets, they will undergo more challenging and advanced training. The Zulu, which they are recognized, will undergo a seven-month long Final Year Military Training (LKTA) which consists of several exclusive trainings. They will undergo a Self-confidence training which includes activities such as confidence training at Commando camp, 10 meter dive, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) training and mountain-hiking of Gunung Ledang. They will continue with Counter-Insurgency Warfare (CIW) and Conventional Warfare (CW) field exercises which are held as real field exercise, usually in the area of Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. Final Year Military Training is regarded as the most rigorous training for cadets as it demands highest level of endurance and physical fitness. A cadet must complete this training in order to be commissioned as officers in the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Civilian students are obliged to register under Reserve Officer Training Unit (ROTU), and will serve the military as reserves. Their participation in the ROTU is compulsory. The students will be given training allowance and certain privileges during military trainings. The ALK is responsible for their training programme too. Civilian students who are successfully graduated to Bachelor's degree level will be commissioned as a military officer with the ranks of Second Lieutenant in the reserve after completing military trainings.
Unlike virtually all other bachelor-degree granting institutions in Malaysia (but like the other military academies in Malaysia), the university does not refer to its students as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors; they are instead called by their year of intake e.g. "2002", "2003", "2004", "20XX".
Colloquially, the freshmen are "tahun asas (basic year)"; sophomores, "tahun satu (year 1)"; juniors, "tahun dua (year 2)"; seniors, "tahun tiga (year 3)"; super-senior, "tahun empat (year 4)". Most cadets consider basic year to be the most difficult because of the rules and restrictions developed to help students transition from civilian to military cadet. However, the third and fourth years are generally considered to be the hardest academically.
Within the university, cadets who reached year three or four can hold positions of increasing responsibility with a cadet rank:
The cadets has the following organization:
There are 6 battalions in the Cadet Brigade which are:
All of the battalion, except 'Zulu', was named after five Malay folks heroes. Each battalion has their own identity such as insignia, emblem, motto, song and war dance. Every cadet holds their battalion's pride in high spirit which obviously can be seen during inter-battalion sports or military competition. Lekiu battalion is the battalion for foundation/basic year cadets, who are living with their own intake for a year before reporting to any one of the Tuah, Jebat, Kasturi or Lekir battalion as first year cadets. Zulu Battalion is the battalion for final year cadets prior to their commissioning. A cadet will leave their respective battalion to join Zulu after a batch of previous Zulu have been commissioned, usually on January.
Admission to the university can be done by applying through Education ministry's University Central Unit (UPU) where academic qualification will be evaluated. Candidates then had to undergo physical, mental and leadership tests at selected camp for a period of 1–3 weeks which is conducted by Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).[3]
To be admitted, candidates must be between 18 and 20 years old upon entrance, cannot be married, have no legal obligation to support a child, and be of good moral character. The current process includes a university application, standardized testing, and personal references. Candidates for admission also must undergo a physical aptitude test as well as a complete physical exam, including a separate visual acuity test to be eligible for appointment, although medical waivers are available. Usually, candidates with vision uncorrectable to 20/20, as well as a range of other injuries or illnesses, will be automatically considered for a medical waiver only if they are highly competitive.
Graduates receive a Bachelor degree and are commissioned as Captain in the Army or equivalent rank in the navy or air force with an obligation to serve 10 years active service in the military. Eligibility for particular specialties (infantry, artillery, armor, engineers, etc.) is typically determined by academic performance and personal preference. A cadet is a first class graduate if he or she has earned a 3.70 or above Accumulated Grade Pointer Average (CPA), second class if 3.0-3.69 or third class if 2.99 and below.[4]
